We’ve already had the partial Lunar Eclipse a week and a half ago, and the counterpart .. the TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE occurs on this coming monday 21st August 2017. (Eclipses always occur in pairs, separated by 2 weeks, and there are on average 2 pairs every year..).

Total Solar Eclipse (21st August 2017) Details:

How long is this Eclipse?

Important point to remember is that, at any one location on the Earth, the actual Solar Eclipse is only visible for few minutes at most. BUT it will be seen at different parts of the world at various times.. and at each part ..for slightly different duration.

Greatest Eclipse and its duration:

This is when the largest amount of the Sun is covered by the Moon.. and takes place at 18:25 hrs (Universal Time= GMT), and will be visible for 2min40sec, from a point in USA (Lat=26’58N. Long=87’40 W).

Penumbral start & end of Eclipse:

There are two types of shadows formed by the Moon when it comes in front of the Sun.. ie the shadow that Earth Passes through. Umbral shadow is the darkest part, where from under it, we see nothing of the Sun. Penumbral shadow is a more lighter part, and we will see the Sun through it..

P1 : The Penumbral part of the eclipse will be first visible at 15:46 hrs UT (seen from pacific ocean at Sunrise).

P4: The penumbral part of the Eclipse will be last visible at 21:04 hrs UT (seen from South America – before night falls locally there)

The Umbral Eclipse data:

This is when the Sun is actually visibly blocked by a dark disc (Moon coming between us and the Sun). In scientific notations, we give this 4 sets of readings.. when it first starts (first contact/ start of Umbral Eclipse; 2nd contact; when Eclipse begins to end; when final umbral eclipse fully ends.

U1 : 16:48 hrs UT

U2 : 16:49 hrs UT

Greatest Eclipse : 18:25 hrs UT

U3 : 20:01 hrs UT

U4 : 20:02 hrs UT

NASA diagrams created/provided by Fred Espanak, where all this data has been taken from:

Gif animation showing the visibility & times of the Total Solar Eclipse 21st August 2017 (by Fred Espenak of NASA)

Note: The small dot at the centre is the exact location where the Total Eclipse can be seen at a particular time (Universal Time = GMT). The larger grey/blue area shows the area from which penumbral eclipse can be seen at any particular time. The dark sections of the Earth (on left and right) show the night time for those places.

Time: Remember all times are UT (Universal Time which is equivalent to Greenwich mean time). so you must work out local time. For example the dot first appears to the West of USA (in Pacific Ocean area) around 17:00hrs GMT.. This is actually sun-rise/ morning time for those who first see the Eclipse (if they were in the Pacific Ocean).

Visibility data for UK:

From these diagrams, you can ascertain that for us in United Kingdom, about 10% of this Eclipse will be visible around 19:00hrs GMT.

Astrology charts

Below is a general astrological chart I have created to show the positions of other planets & Zodiac signs, during the exact moment of this Total Solar Eclipse (Greatest Eclipse at 18:25hrs UT).

-Mani Navasothy

If you are interested in doing Esoteric / ritual magical work / energy work, during the Eclipses, I have written a workbook (probably the world’s first book on Eclipse Magic). here’s the link to buying it.

A year ago I decided and made an offering to do this `Kavadi dance’ at this year’s Chariot street procession at the Ealing Durga Goddess temple in London. That divine offering / prayer was fulfilled on 13/8/17.

The day started with a 5am wake up in my tent… and we got to Ealing temple for the big annual chariot festival by 7.30am. The Kavadi procession (dancing with this ritual `mountain’ prop) began around 10am and we returned to the temple after street procession and dancing throughout ..by 4-5pm (culminating with a final dance inside temple).

Personal history: long ago when i was little..I did this with a tiny version of it around a local temple (Sanathy Murugan temple, near Jaffna, Sri Lanka) .. which started my ritual dancing and drumming..which has evolved into my shamanic trance drumming & dancing.. So it’s apt that I’ve come full circle. It’s been a divine privilege..

Next year I will be constructing my own `Kavadi’ ..and hope to do this in 2 different temples (Wimbledon Ganapathy temple, and Ealing Durga Temple again).

Many thanks to my mother Rani Navasothy for accompanying me, providing me with water etc during this 6+ hours of procession and keeping me `safe’ as I completed my promise.. (and in and out of mild dance-trance). Am also grateful to Varathan Uncle for bringing the Kavadi and helping me with initial set-up & preparations.

We’ve already had the Aquarian partial Lunar Eclipse (7th Aug) & Perseid meteor showers (12th Aug). A total Solar Eclipse (in Leo) is coming on 21st August, and we are now 3 days into Mercury retrograde (started Sunday 13th Aug) in the sign of Leo..and will continue till 5th September’17.

Am mindful that when major planetary transits bring about these sort of energies, they are merely pointing to areas in our lives that require willful attention & decluttering, and ultimately deconstructions of old Towers!

Only then can we move better towards goals, aims and fulfilment of our destinies, set by a blend of Fates & Free Will.

This is an outdoor experiential course (in 3 parts), covering all the basic principles, practices & ritual magic within Wicca – as it has been generally practised in the UK for the past 20 years (based on the form of Wicca founded/ propagated by Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and many other elders of The Craft.

It is suitable for all beginners, but each subject is covered in greater depths, and includes meditations, pathworking, and magical / ritual work – to embed what you are learning!

Getting there: From Wimbledon or Putney, take the bus No 93. Alight at bus stop `Parkside Hospital’. Go into `Windmill Road’ and walk about 10mins to get to the Tea Rooms/cafe and meet us there. Tutor will be waiting by the outside seating area.

This place has free car park / toilet facilities. Car park fills up so get there early to park.

———– Course Contents (please DO NOT copy )—————–

Part 1: Sacred Space & Energy (10th Sept’17)-

You’ll experientially learn about the following :

Chakra system of personal energy centres will be explained, with a practical meditation to experience this;

An energy attuning pathworking will be led by tutor (using 4 element imagery, as well as growing horns & branches, and connecting to the Earth centres using imagery of growing roots.

Consecrations – you’ll first see a demonstration of purifying and blessing, using Salt & Water, incense and Candle / lantern, the tools to use, and the usual wiccan words; Then each student will get a chance to practise the consecrations;

Circle casting: Using your own wand, athame or the tutor’s wand, you will learn the visualisation, energy work and practise casting a magic circle.

Elements & Quarters: The reasons and methods of calling/ invoking the elementals at the quarters inside a magic circle will be explained and demonstrated with words and symbols (invoking pentagrams, and element triangles) to be drawn; You will then practise this;

Transpersonal qualities: There will be further explanations of the qualities invoked with elements, colour and symbolic correspondences. An exercise will also be undertaken by us – for internal elemental exploration and transpersonal balance.

Witches Rune: Often used in Circles for energy raising (creative poetry written by Doreen Valiente – mother of modern Witchcraft). We will allocate some time to exploring the Witche’s Rune, the symbolism inherent in it, and have several practice chants of it.

Book for Wicca course – part 1 (10th Sept’17) £18

Part 2: Working with God & Goddess in Wicca (24th Sep’17):

You’ll experientially learn about the following :

God forms in Wicca: This includes Cernunnos, Hern, Pan, Green Man, Dark Lord (Death), Sun God, Odin, Osiris …amongst others. The symbology of Horns, hooves, antlers are explained, as well as some discussion on the demonising (Pagan god seen as satan/ devil) of the god by non-pagans. We’ll deal with any hidden fears, old conditionings and prejudices, and work transpersonally to reconnect with the Horned God of Wicca and his empowering wildwood energies. Chants will be taught and used.

Goddess form in Wicca: We’ll explore the Triple-Goddess imagery used in Wicca- maiden, mother and crone, as well as the various examples – Dianna the Huntress, Isis , Cailleach, Hecate, Gaia and more…

The God & Goddess cycle in Wicca explained with diagrams and notes- ie the maiden Persephone’s abduction at Autumn, motherhood, rejuvenated Bride arriving back to land at Imbolc; Marriage of God & Goddess at Beltane; the sacrifice of the God at Lammas; coming of Dark Lord at Samhain; Birth of Sun-child at Yule and more.

Invocations, evocations and Charges of God & Goddess : What happens after circle is cast and energy raised in a coven? How are the god & Goddess brought into the Circle? Who carries those energie? What is the Drawing down of the Moon? And Sun? How does working with God & Goddess empower Witches? All will be explained with brief demonstration of postures.

We’ll go through some invocations and learn to use them. (which you can use in your own or group rituals).

Charge of the Goddess – the poetry work created by Doreen Valiente – mother of modern witchcraft will be looked.

Main forms of ritual magic practised in coven-wicca explained and demonstrated.

Use of magical tools – brief explanation of main tools & their uses in a circle will be covered ;

Wheel of the Year – 8 main seasonal festivals (Imbolc to Yule) explained with their themes and main magic.

Coven structures, initiation degree systems; some preparations and quests that seekers of initiation must undergo (no oathbound coven secrets will be divulged! But published materials will be talked about, and any misconceptions/ fears you have will be addressed as long as it does not breach wiccan secrecy oaths.

All about your Witch-Name : What is it? Why? How do you go about choosing one? When is it used? and more.

Book for Wicca course – part 3 (15th Oct’17) £18

What to bring ————————————

For your own comfort, please bring any food/drinks lunch (Please avoid eating during course delivery, unless otherwise stated on the day !);

bring flask of hot drinks.

***Bring comfortable cushion/ mat to sit on, as well as a blanket / throw to wrap up ..during meditative work (or if it’s just cold).

Rain cover: If the weather proves changeable / wet on the day, a tarp cover will be set up.

Bright Blessings
-Mani Navasothy
(Gardnerian Wiccan High Priest)

A copyright note: I’ve been running these (particularly woodland-based) `Wiccan Apprentice’ courses for many years, as 1-day courses, 3-part courses and 5-part courses (since 2006), and as e-witch Apprentice course (9 modules) since 2012. While the subject and contents of Wicca do not exclusively belong to me or anyone, I am an initiated Gardnerian Wiccan High Priest with authority to teach and train others, and this particular way of grouping Wicca topics and delivering them has been my own `innovation’ since 2006, as evidenced by records (flyers, blogs, website publicit & course notes) that I am able to produce! Anyone embarking on teaching Wicca should start from ground up and devise their own form syllabus/ grouping.

A note on charging a fee: While for decades the teaching and running of courses on Wicca has been done by hundreds of established Wiccans/ Elders of the Craft (for a fee), the process of actual Initiating someone (properly prepared) into a Coven has always been done freely and without any fee, by all respectable Coven leaders including myself. The fees we charge are for the preparation of courses, organising an event and giving our time as Teachers.

Outdoor Lammas 2017: Harvest Gathering & Ceremony

Join us for an outdoor Harvest Gathering to celebrate LAMMAS 2017 – with Ceremony and social. This is an open ritual held in an outdoor park/woods with easy public access.. (please read this info section fully. Thanks).

About Lammas:

“Lammas is one of the 8 seasonal festivals celebrated by most Pagans, Wiccans/ Witches and druids in UK. At the time of Lammas, at the height of his power, the Corn King gives up his life force to the land! This is harvest time in the fields, where Corn is cut down and other such grain are harvested. John Barleycorn is `baked’ and sacrificed. In God mythology, the God willingly gives himself up and the Goddess cuts him down, so that his energy may feed the land. Just as the fallen seed sleeps safely within the soil, till winter passes and next spring, so the spirit of the Lammas-King enters the underworld.

On a personal note – we celebrate the harvest and rewards & results of all our hard works so far in the year.. honour the land & fields, and feast and celebrate with family and friends and community.

Meeting point: Garden area of `Woodmans Pub’ on Archway Road from 2pm. We’ll walk (15mins) together to the woods – for ceremony & woodland feasting. Some free parking on side road as it’s sunday.

Please meet at the Garden area of `Woodmans Pub’ on Archway Road from 2pm. This provides some to have a drink and socialise, get to know others who are attending – Organisers Mani & friends) will be there to socialise and make newcomers feel at ease. We’ll then go together to the woods –

• There is some free parking on main road (wood lane..) as it;s Sunday free parking. The walk from pub to woodland ritual spot can take about 10-15mins depending on how briskly we walk.

In the woods – altar & food altar:

We’ll be using a slightly different location.. because our usual spot gets busy with public/ kids/ other family local events in summer time. So we’ll use a spot away from that – (about 100 yards away where we held the Woodland Beltane ritual..).

Once main rustic altar has been set up (magically aware during set-up) you can add to it with your own items. We’ll also be setting up a `main food altar’ as this is harvest time and feasting takes particular importance. Bread, fruits, cakes, wine, drinks and other sensible food items will be placed on the food altar (other snack food items can be brought out during feasting after ritual).

RITUAL : Intention & outline:

The energy that you all add makes a big magical difference. This gathering is to mark the turning of the seasonal wheel, celebrate personal harvests & achievements, and prepare to receive our own rewards.

At Lammas, just as Corn king makes a sacrifice, we also can make a personal declaration of what we are willing to give up, in order to make space for new better positive rewards to enter our lives.

Our ritual will blend eclectic shamanism and wicca to create this Lammas magic!

Something personal..something I wrote on a friend’s wall..but thought it’s a good one to share on my page/blog too.. as it might be helpful to those who teach, run holistic community events or facilitate magical rituals/ ceremonies:

Without coming across as arrogant or anything, i have held a personal ideal..that I don’t cancel anything magical that I set up. Because the moment it is set up a beacon has gone out in the astral..and others have started to make their plans..and weave their lives (as brief or extensive) around it..which may or may not change their lives..

There have been days when personally I’ve been so tired or unwell..but I have had the courage of my convictions to turn up..

..and you know what? ..those days have gone exceptionally well.. Others have gone home feeling so powered up..and I have returned home feeling major shifts within myself..and the tiredness/ unwellness lifted.

(NB: These last 3 weeks..I’ve been dealing with a chest infection, near loss of voice, chronic back ache.. Yet I’ve managed to turn up /facilitate a trip to Avebury/Midsummer, a camping trip with my group, a new moon ritual in woods, a full moon ritual by the Thames, an Isis ritual. All have gone well..and those participated in them have said how powerful those rituals were..to my shock! It’s a shock as I felt at my worse and most vulnerable and yet others have experienced intensity and magic and power by it all).

It’s taught me that once we embark on a path of service.. we are like a heart that pumps blood to others..and ourselves. If we stop beating.. everyone looses. If we keep going..everyone gains magic..

March of the Mermaids is an annual seaside event organised by Hannah Chilton and friends – now in its 5th year. It is a not- for-profit event that aims to raise awareness and money for sea life and marine conservation. People dress up as mermaids, pirates and other sea-related characters / creatures from myths and stories…for a fine summer day by the sea (Brighton, UK)..and to raise funds.
This video was filmed in July 2015 by Vathani Navasothy and edited by Mani Navasothy.

As much as I like to `resign’ from Life, Universe and the internet. There’s just too much crap going on in the world…for me and anyone with Gaia-consciousness to stay on the sidelines and look for Himalayas to retreat to.

THIS is our battle.. to keep the divine faith in our souls, hopes in our hearts, stay cautiously optimistic, unconditionally positive, challenge any and all ill-doings elsewhere and everywhere.. and stand up for a better world – no matter how gloomy things may look.. and how close the Four Horsemen seem to be. This is where our warrior-energies are need… not to fight, to hurt, maim or kill a fellow human..but to put to flight the welling darkness and rising illusions and delusions.

This battle is not fought with side-arms & arrows, mace or missiles – but with patience, endurance, inner strength and a strong belief within.. Doesn’t matter what god or goddess or divine being you believe it…but believe it.. and make him/ her/ it be your peaceful power and strength.. !

The inner child may be afraid.. and throws tantrums, seeking attention. But it is seeking safety, support and love. Not just yours or mine..but all the Inner-Children of the billions of people on Earth! As adults, we can exude positivity, assurance, offer support, emotional acceptance and understanding.

This is the time for all of our Love, light and compassionate, nurturing, empowering thoughts, feelings and deeds to rise to the surface and spread.

Bright Stellar Blessings!
-Mani Navasothy

ps. This piece was written by me, last year (June’16), on my personal wall on facebook, but seemed rather apt to share here on my blog now.

I have always come at my contributions on facebook or my blogs etc.. with real experiences and disclosures, giving most subject matters my personal context. Rather than prod others to reveal personal things, I do it about myself ..and hope others will reciprocate..and build trust. This is NOT ego (as some perceive it as)..but a humanistic approach (instead of a dry academic approach) .

There are people – loved ones, friends, family, ex-partners – whom I protect.. Where my life stories interface with theirs, i try to keep their parts/ details somewhat vague..and focus only on my parts. This again can come across as if I am being egocentric. But it’s a balancing act.. keeping their privacy while telling my story. Not easy .

I teach by being a living example, and talk about live examples from my life. In short, I say what I do and do what I say (almost).

And I live by the principle that the Truth can’t harm me.. well..at least in the long term it can’t..(though it does in the interim, hurt me at times – when people use what I say against me). It’s all about steadily becoming more congruent with my self..and internally self-consistent.

Easier said than done of course.. It’s all work in progress!
-Mani Navasothy

Shot in the chest or a stab in the back? Power-position of a Magical Initiator (or a Rebel Leader)

Have you ever put people through trials and tests, and found you got shot in the chest by them? Those are the best results of the `test’ . Getting stabbed in the back..? That’s a failed test!

Am sure not all will agree with such methods, but being in the public eye and in leadership, initiating and instigating many rebellious social or community ventures, I’ve gone down the routes of pushing and prodding people who are supposedly learning from me or following me into fire and battles.

Remember that a real Fire-alarm test happens when people don’t expect it…and not when everyone knows it’s at 10am on the first Tuesday of the month or something. Likewise, when people come to work with me magically, I usually afford them a honeymoon period of some months. I ask the question..over and over again.. here and there..formally and informally.. and the answer defines the unannounced `real life’ scenario..that an initiatory process threshold is about to be reached.. and to step over it is going to require work and trials and tests..and quests.

Yes in Magical traditions.. there are formal ceremonies and initiations. In my experience.. those are the end-markers of a process… the handing out of a Degree Certificate at a formal award ceremony in a hired Hall. Long before that.. the quests and tests begin..

No formal contrived ceremonies or warnings. Just making use of real life events and opportunities that rise. Some call it manipulation. I call it real life training and initiation by fire… where the stakes are high and wins/ losses are felt for real.. and there are no safety nets, no backups and no resets.

This and more are coming up in detail.. `Beginners Guide to Running Wiccan Covens’ . It’s been a work in progress ..ever since I wrote the other book, `Coven Guide: How to become an Initiated Witch’ back in 2012.

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Next Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse (August 2017)August 21st, 2017

4days to go.

eBook: Eclipse Magic – Stellar Engineer your life!

Stellar Engineer your life – Eclipse Magic Workbook (extensive)
This is world’s first book on working directly and magically with energies of Solar and Lunar Eclipses, written by Mani Navasothy – AstroMage, Hindu-Magician & Wiccan High Priest.

eBook `Coven Guide: Become an Initiated Witch’

This book explains the journey of seeking initiation in Wicca, Etiquette and protocols to follow - before, during and after the Initiation. Written by Mani Navasothy, initiated Wiccan High Priest (London)
Read more

e-Witch Apprentice: Wicca Training at home!

e-Witch Apprentice: Correspondence Training course.
Mani Navasothy - Initiated Wiccan High Priest, with 20 years of Craft & Coven experience has created this e-Witch Course. Click to read more.
Click for more info